In this episode of the Book Deal Podcast, host Natasha Rai interviews Michelle See-Tho, the 2023 Penguin Literary Prize winner. Michelle discusses her debut novel, 'Jade and Emerald,' the thematic elements of class, race, loneliness, and family in her story, and her journey from ideation to publication. She reflects on her experience in the Kill Your Darlings Mentors Program, which helped shape her manuscript, and the subsequent process of winning the prestigious Penguin Literary Prize. The conversation covers the intricate details of structural and line edits, cover design deliberations, and the ensuing publicity and launch events. Michelle also shares valuable advice for aspiring writers, emphasizing perseverance and the importance of constantly improving one's craft.

00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast

00:34 Meet Michelle See-Tho: Freelance Writer and Award-Winning Author

01:18 Discussing 'Jade and Emerald': Themes and Inspirations

02:43 The Writing Process: From Idea to Manuscript

08:48 Mentorship and Development: The Kill Your Darlings Program

14:42 Submitting to Competitions: The Road to Winning the Penguin Literary Prize

18:46 The Moment of Victory: Winning the Penguin Literary Prize

21:39 Special Segment: Introducing Emma Babington and Her Novel 'The Neighbors'

22:19 Liv's Quest and the Murder Mystery

23:03 The Announcement and Penguin Office Visit

24:08 Structural Edits and Initial Changes

27:30 Line Edits and Cover Design

31:09 Publication and Publicity

36:24 Reflections and Advice for Writers

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Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
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Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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Hosts Tina Strachan and Madeliene Cleary interview Charlotte Guest, a writer and bookseller based in Geelong, Victoria. The conversation covers Charlotte's journey from an outdoor-loving child to managing an indie bookstore and obtaining a PhD in Creative Writing. Charlotte offers an inside look into the world of book selling, including the processes of ordering, the importance of face-to-face interaction with authors, and the small details that contribute to a bookshop’s success. The discussion also touches on the significance of events and the challenges of small bookstores in hosting them. Additionally, Charlotte discusses her experience being shortlisted for the Bookseller of the Year Award and shares her thoughts on the future of the book industry. The episode includes a segment with author Kasey Whitelaw sharing her debut picture book, 'Flute: A Dolphin's Wild Journey Home.'

00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast
00:43 Introducing Charlotte Guest
01:37 Casual Catch-Up with Tina and Madeline
03:01 Charlotte's Journey in Writing and Bookselling
25:25 The Power of Indie Bookshops
31:36 Making Book Orders Easy for Bookstores
32:14 Timing Your Bookstore Engagement
33:26 The Etiquette of Signing Books in Stores
34:53 Promoting Your Book in Bookstores

36:40 Kasey Whitelaw introduces debut book 'Flute: A Dolphin's Wild Journey Home'
38:30 Author Events in Bookstores
42:07 The Role of Bookstores in the Community
44:28 Favorite Moments as a Bookseller
50:25 The Future of Bookstores
54:56 Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts

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You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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Host Tina Strachan chats to debut author Carla Salmon about the journey of her young adult mystery thriller, 'We Saw What You Started'. Carla discusses her path from the initial idea to signing with publisher Pan MacMillan. She highlights crucial aspects like the structural evolution of her manuscript, the importance of fleshing out characters, and the challenges of reaching young readers in the current market. Carla also shares practical advice on marketing and building professional platforms for aspiring authors. The episode includes a segment by Tanya Scott about her debut novel, 'Stillwater'.

00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast
00:43 Meet Carla Salmon: Debut Author
03:10 The Journey to Publication
06:15 Crafting a Young Adult Mystery
08:50 The Editing Process and Agent Search
16:38 Signing with a Publisher
20:52 Writing for Teens and Tweens
24:43 Debut Spotlight: Tanya Scott's Debut Novel 'Stillwater'
25:52 Challenges in Middle Grade and Young Adult Reading
30:22 Navigating the Young Adult Market
36:21 Marketing Strategies for Authors
46:11 Balancing Writing and Marketing
48:49 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Projects

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first.
Madeleine: Subscribe here
Tina: Subscribe here
Natasha: Subscribe here